OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said that the company plans to ship 100 million AI companion devices, following the acquisition of the startup io, led by former Apple designer Jony Ive. The development was first reported by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on Wednesday, citing an internal discussion between Altman and his staff.
Altman also suggested that the $6.5 billion acquisition could add $1 trillion to OpenAI’s valuation.
Altman and Ive have hinted that these AI companion devices will be fully aware of the user’s surroundings while offering an ‘unobtrusive’ experience. The report added that the AI companion devices will be standalone units.
However, OpenAI has not officially revealed the nature of the device. Ive expressed scepticism about building anything that can be worn on the body.
Altman has also said that the goal is to release the first device by late next year and that OpenAI will deliver products faster than any other company.
The development happened after OpenAI and Ive announced the acquisition of io, which is focused on building hardware products around artificial intelligence.
“Computers are now seeing, thinking and understanding,” Altman and Ive said in a joint statement. “Despite this unprecedented capability, our experience remains shaped by traditional products and interfaces,” stated Ive and Altman regarding the motive behind the initiative.
During his tenure at Apple, Ive played a key role in designing the iPhone, iPod, iPad and MacBook Air. He also contributed to the design of Apple Park, the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, which opened in 2019 after years of planning that began in 2004.
- Coforge Revenue Rises 54% as AI Engineering and Deal Bookings Gain Momentum
- Tech Mahindra Partners With SpaceXSI to Bring AI Into Software Engineering
- Infosys AI Revenue Rises 29% in Q2, FY27 Growth Guidance Cut
- LTM Launches BlueVerse Industrial AI Lab in Chennai
- Chariot Launches Speech Recognition Model for 10 Indian Languages
- Meta Expects Up To $145 Billion In Capex As AI Investments Expand